Game Rules

Current official rules and regulations are defined by the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Book except where amended and superseded by these standing rules or by the bylaws of the West Covina Youth Basketball League. Go to www.nfhs.org for National Federation of State High School Associations information.

GENERAL GAME RULES 1. Teams may arrive no more than 30 minutes prior to game time. Coaches may conduct a 15 minute maximum "walk-through" but may not conduct a "practice." --1st violation: Written and signed warning verified by coach & division representative --2nd violation: Suspension from the next game. If your team arrives at the game after the warm-up period, the game will be forfeited.

2. All games will start as scheduled. There is no grace period. In the event the previous game ends late, the next game will start 5 minutes after the final buzzer.

3. Teams must have five (5) players at the start of a game. If a team falls short of players by game time, and both coaches agree, the team short a player may pick up a West Covina Youth Basketball player from the same division for that game only. If not, the game will be determined as a forfeit.

4. The officials, scorekeepers, and timekeepers are provided by the league.

5. Only (1) one coach will be allowed to stand during game time. Only two (2) coaches will be allowed on the bench at a time. --First violation: 2 shot technical foul --Second violation: Ejection from that game and the offending coach is required to leave the gym. The assistant coach will take over the team and complete the game. If an assistant coach is not available, the ejected coach will appoint the Team Manager or another board member to take his or her place. The ejected coach will in no way hinder or delay further play before exiting the gym. The ejected coach is required to go before the Board of Directors after the second ejection.

6. Benched players must sit on the bench with their team in uniform. Reason for being benched must be recorded in the official score book prior to the start of the game (sick, injured, disciplinary action). The head coach must send an email to the League President (or call the League phone number and leave a message) by noon on the Friday immediately preceding that weekend's games. The email, or a written notation, will printed and placed in the scorebook on game day.

7. Only the referee, head coach, acting head coach or board member may speak to the official scorekeeper or timekeeper during the game and in a respectful manner. The referee may impose a two (2) shot team technical foul on any violating team.

8. Disputes will be settled with the referee within a three-minute time limit. Only the head coach or acting head coach of a team may be involved in the discussion.

9. Coaches may not leave the designated bench area at any time during the game. Exceptions: the coach may go onto the court to assist an injured player, or if summoned by the official. If a coach leaves the bench area or steps out onto the court, an automatic two (2) shot bench technical foul may be assessed. Note: not applicable to the Gremlin division.

10. If a coach knowingly uses a player that has been benched, that coach will be suspended for that game.

11. In the event that the spectators and statisticians are located on the same side of the arena, no spectator is allowed to enter the area that is designated for the statisticians. Furthermore, no spectator is allowed to talk to, touch, or bother the statisticians for any reason. Violators will be asked to leave the gym for that game.

GREMLIN DIVISION SPECIFICS Players will play on the court in the gymnasium with a rim height of 8 feet with a junior or youth size ball, 27.5" inches.

No official score will be kept and will ask that spectators refrain from keeping statistics in the stands. Please encourage the effort and hard work of both teams. Everyone wins in the Gremlin divisions.

Games will consist of four (4) eight (8) minute running quarters. Quarter breaks will be 1 minute and half time will be 5 minutes.

The official will stop the clock for time outs, injuries, quarters, and halftime; otherwise the game clock will remain running.

Each team will receive ONLY (3) three full timeouts (one minute each) for the game.

All players must play a minimum of four (4) minutes per quarter. At approximately the halfway point, (or the 4 minute mark), of each quarter, and at the end of each quarter the referee will stop play, and the clock, and both teams will put into play their entire bench.

Double-teaming and Defensive Zones: coaches cannot allow any two defenders to double team one (1) offensive player or play in any type of zone defense. First violation is a warning; second violation is a one shot technical foul and possession of the ball.

Defensive players must play defense within one (1) arms distance from their opponent.

No press/No back court guarding: Teams cannot apply pressure in the back court to any offensive player. Offensive players can only be defended after crossing the half court line. First violation is a warning; second violation is a one shot technical foul and possession of the ball.

Three seconds in the key, five seconds to inbound, and ten seconds to cross half court do not apply.

The official game balls may be changed during the season if the Division Representatives and the Equipment Manager deem it necessary.

PEE WEE DIVISION SPECIFICS Players will play full court with a standard rim height of 10 feet and an intermediate size or womens ball, 28.5" inches.

Games will consist of four (4) eight (8) minute running quarters: with the exception of team or official time outs, the game clock will remain running for the first three (3) quarters and the first six (6) minutes of the fourth quarter. During the last two (2) minutes of the fourth quarter, and/or the last two (2) minutes of any overtime period, the game will stop for all violations whistled by the officials.

All players must play a minimum of four (4) minutes per quarter. At approximately the halfway point, (or the 4 minute mark), of each quarter, and at the end of each quarter the referee will stop play, and the clock, and both teams will put into play their entire bench. Excluding the fourth quarter.

Double-teaming and Defensive Zones: coaches cannot allow any two defenders to double team one (1) offensive player or play in any type of zone defense. First violation is a warning; second violation is a one shot technical foul and possession of the ball.

Defensive players must play defense within one (1) arms distance from their opponent.

No press/No back court guarding: Teams cannot apply pressure in the back court to any offensive player. Offensive players can only be defended after crossing the half court line. First violation is a warning; second violation is a one shot technical foul and possession of the ball. Excluding the last two minutes of the 4th quarter and the last two minutes of any overtime period.

BANTAM DIVISION SPECIFICS Ball size: the Bantam division will use the official intermediate size or womens ball, 28.5 inches.

Games will consist of four (4) eight (8) minute running quarters: with the exception of team or official time outs, the game clock will remain running for the first three (3) quarters and the first six (6) minutes of the fourth quarter. During the last two (2) minutes of the fourth quarter, and/or the last two (2) minutes of any overtime period, the game will stop for all violations whistled by the officials.

Games will consist of four (4) ten (10) minute running quarters: with the exception of team or official time outs, the game clock will remain running for the first three (3) quarters and the first eight (8) minutes of the fourth quarter. During the last two (2) minutes of the fourth quarter, and/or the last two (2) minutes of any overtime period, the game will stop for all violations whistled by the officials.

PEE WEE, BANTAM, JUNIOR, AND SENIOR DIVISION SPECIFICS Each team will receive (3) three full timeouts (one minute each) and (2) two 30 second timeouts per game. Coaches may call timeouts from the bench directly to the referee. TIMEOUTS DO NOT CARRY OVER TO OVERTIME PERIODS (precedent set on February 19, 2006, Sr. Sixers vs. Sr. Kings, double overtime period).

All players must play a minimum of (4) four minutes per quarter for the first 3 quarters. Each player must play a minimum of two (2) minutes of the fourth quarter.

The clock will not be stopped by the timekeeper or an official in order for a coach to clear the bench for the purpose of mandatory playing time.

Stop clock will be in effect for the last two minutes of the fourth quarter except if a team is winning by 12 points or more (in which event the clock will run).

Skunk Rule: if a team is ahead by thirty (30) points or more at the end of the third quarter the game will be called completed. The game, however, will continue with the scores turned off. Personal fouls and scoring will be recorded by the scorekeeper with no stoppage of time in the fourth quarter.

Press Rule: no team ahead by 15 or more points will use a full court press or attempt to double team the ball until the offense has brought the ball across the half court line. Also, no defensive player shall guard or attempt to steal the ball until the offense brings the ball past the half court line.

Overtime Periods: three minutes for the first overtime period, two minutes for the second overtime period and 1 minute for each subsequent overtime period. Each coach/team will receive one (1) timeout per overtime period. Timeouts not used during regulation do not carry over.